Prophylactic kit apparatus

ABSTRACT

A prophylactic kit apparatus configured to be used with only a single patient includes a plurality of sealed modules and a housing configured to contain those sealed modules such that only one of the plurality of sealed modules can be removed from the housing at a time. Each of the plurality of sealed modules contains at least one prophylactic agent to be used in service of the patient. These sealed modules are to be used in a particular order and the housing is further configured to facilitate the removal of the sealed modules in only that particular order.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/206,289,Filed Aug. 9, 2011, entitled PROPHYLACTIC KIT APPARATUS, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to prophylactic kits for preventing orat least mitigating the worsening of physical impairments and moreparticularly to preventing or at least mitigating the worsening ofdisease processes.

BACKGROUND

Various medical therapies serve to reverse, halt, or at least aid incontrolling symptoms that pertain to corresponding physical maladies.Prophylactic approaches, on the other hand, while possibly having one ormore therapeutic qualities in some cases, primarily serve to prevent(completely or at least to a large extent) a corresponding physicalmalady.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one example of a physicalmalady that receives considerable attention as the National HealthCareSafety Network identified VAP as being the second most commonhospital-acquired infection and one that is deadlier than either centralline-associated bloodstream infections or sepsis. In response, variousorganizations have identified prophylactic regimens that offer ademonstrable ability to prevent VAP.

Such prophylactic regimens make use of a variety of prophylactic agentsthat require relatively frequent and periodic administration to thepatient. These regimens are sufficiently complex that administrationcompliance issues can and do arise. The applicant has determined thatexisting approaches in these regards leave room for considerableimprovement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through provision of theprophylactic kit apparatus described in the following detaileddescription, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 comprises a perspective partial view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 comprises a perspective partial view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 comprises a front-elevational view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 comprises a front-elevational view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 comprises a perspective partial view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 9 comprises a perspective partial view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

Common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, these various embodiments comprise a prophylactickit apparatus configured to be used with only a single patient. This kitincludes a plurality of sealed modules and a housing configured tocontain those sealed modules such that only one of the plurality ofsealed modules can be removed from the housing at a time. Each of theplurality of sealed modules contains at least one prophylactic agent tobe used in service of the patient. These sealed modules are to be usedin a particular order and the housing is further configured tofacilitate the removal of the sealed modules in only that particularorder.

In an application setting where the sealed modules are also to beemployed in a periodic manner (such as, for example, ever two hours orevery four hours) at least some of the sealed modules can bear aperiodicity indicator. By one approach at least some of the sealedmodules can be color coded as a function, for example, of a particularcategory of prophylactic agent as is contained within at least one ofthe sealed modules.

By one approach the plurality of sealed modules are stacked verticallywithin the housing when the housing is oriented in a dispensingorientation. To facilitate dispensing only one sealed module at a timethe housing can include a dispensing slot that is sized to accommodateat least one of the sealed modules but not two or more.

These teachings are highly flexible and scalable in practice and canserve to greatly leverage a wide variety of existing prophylacticagents, regimens, and protocols. Such a prophylactic kit apparatus canalso greatly facilitate prompting and ensuring compliance with respectto proper and timely administration of any number of prophylacticregimens.

These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thoroughreview and study of the following detailed description. Referring now tothe drawings, various illustrative prophylactic kit apparatuses that arecompatible with many of these teachings will be presented.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prophylactic kit apparatus configured to be usedwith only a single patient. That is, such a kit will be assigned to onlya single patient and the contents of this kit are not presumed to beshared with other persons. The examples provided herein also presumethat this kit is configured to be used for no longer than apredetermined period of time (such as, for example, one twenty-four hourday). Accordingly, one provides additional such kits to the patient ifand as the need for prophylactic attention persists for subsequent likeperiods of time.

This kit includes a housing 100 configured to contain a plurality ofsealed modules 101. Various of the figures (including FIG. 1) depictthis housing 100 oriented in a dispensing orientation. So oriented, thesealed modules 101 are stacked vertically within the housing 100.Pursuant to one approach these sealed modules 101 are loosely containedwithin the housing prior to removal from the housing 100 (in that noneof the sealed modules 101 are physically connected to another of thesealed modules 101). Pursuant to these teachings this housing 100 isconfigured to contain these sealed modules 101 such that only one of theplurality of sealed modules 101 can be removed from the housing at atime.

In this illustrative example the sidewalls, back, top, and bottom panelsof the housing 100 are closed. These teachings will, however,accommodate including small apertures through these surfaces if desiredprovided those apertures are not sufficiently large to accommodateremoval of one of the sealed modules 101 from within the housing 100.The front panel of the housing 100 includes a dispensing slot 103(located at the bottom of the front panel) sized to accommodate only oneof the sealed modules 101 at a time.

Accordingly, this dispensing slot 103 can be larger than a single one ofthe sealed modules 101 so long as the dispensing slot 103 cannotsimultaneously accommodate two or more of the sealed modules 101. Inparticular, this dispensing slot 103 has a height H and a length L thatwill readily permit one, but not two or more, of the sealed modules 101therethrough. So configured, only one of the sealed modules 101 can beremoved from the housing 100 at a time.

In this illustrative example the front panel of the housing 100 alsoincludes a window 104 defined, in part, by side window panels 102. Thiswindow 104 is of insufficient dimensions to permit the sealed modules101 to readily pass therethrough. So configured (and as described belowin more detail) this window 104 permits an observer to view at leastmany of the sealed modules 101 and thereby glean considerableinformation regarding, for example, the contents of those sealed modules101. If desired, a sheet of clear plastic or the like can optionally beplaced within this window 104.

In at least some cases the contents of these various sealed modules 101are to be used in a particular order of service for the patient andpursuant to a particular periodicity. For example, use of many of thesealed modules 101 may presume sequential use while observing four-hourperiodicity. Disposing these sealed modules 101 within such a housing100 will permit only one such sealed module 101 to be removed from thehousing 100 at a time and in the particular order in which the sealedmodules 101 are stacked within the housing 100 to thereby help assurethat medical service providers employ only appropriate sealed modules101 at a time of service.

If desired, these teachings optionally permit including an electronictimer 105 with the kit. This electronic timer 105 can be disposed, forexample, on the front panel of the housing 100. Such a timer can serveto facilitate timely administration of the sealed modules 101 in serviceof the patient. This can comprise, by one approach, providing anappropriate alarm (audible, visual, haptic, wireless, or any combinationof the foregoing) to alert a medical service provider of a need to nowdispense the next sealed module 101 and utilize the prophylacticcontents of that sealed module 101 for the corresponding patient. Byanother approach, in lieu of the foregoing or in combination therewith,this can comprise providing a real-time display and/or a count-up orcount-down display to help an observer calculate or otherwise understandwhen a next treatment event becomes due.

Such a housing 100 can be comprised of any suitable material. This caninclude, for example, paperboard materials (including cardboard,corrugated cardboard, Bristol board, and so forth), plastic materials,metals, and combinations of the foregoing. By one approach this housing100 comprises a one-time-use housing. These teachings will alsoaccommodate, however, providing a reusable housing into which one canrepeatedly insert the aforementioned sealed modules 101 at a time ofneed.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the aforementioned sealed modules 101 cancomprise one or more sealed containers 201 that each contain at leastone prophylactic agent 202 to be used in service of the correspondingpatient. In some cases each sealed module 101 in a given housing 100 maycontain the same prophylactic agent(s) 202. In other cases, however, theprophylactic agents 202 may vary, at least to some extent, from onesealed module 101 to the next.

Consider, for example, that when the kit serves to preventventilator-associated pneumonia the prophylactic agents may comprise aset-up kit (including, for example, a yankauer, a suction-tubing “Y”connector, a separate turn-valve (such as a suction handle) to controlsuction administration, and an informational bookmark that can beprovided to an anxious patient or family members and that presentsbackground information on VAP and why the patient is to receive thisoral care), oral-cleaning instruments (including, for example, suctiontoothbrushes (with or without integrated tongue and gum-cleaning pads),moisturizing gels and applicator swabs, graduated catheters forsubglottal suctioning, and dentifrice-treated suction swabs), andmouthwashes (such as, for example, the prescription chlorhexidinegluconate 0.12% oral rinse, saliva enzyme-based mouthwash (such as, butnot limited to, Biotine), or hydrogen peroxide to note a few examples inthese regards).

In such a case, a VAP-prevention kit may comprise a housing 100 thatincludes three different sealed modules 101—an initial set-up modulethat provides a yankauer to be used with other prophylactic agents fromother sealed modules 101 and useful mechanisms to facilitate attachingthe yankauer to a suction system and controlling that suction; suctionswab modules; and suction toothbrush and catheter modules. These varioussealed modules 101 are stacked within the housing 100 in their intendedorder of usage and with the first-used sealed modules at the bottom ofthat stack as those will be the first sealed modules 101 to dispensefrom the housing 100.

The above-described portions of the sealed module 101 can comprise awaterproof material such as a rigid or semi-rigid plastic of choice. Theselected material can be clear and substantially transparent, ifdesired, to permit the prophylactic agent(s) 202 contained therein to beexternally viewed. These teachings will also accommodate, however, usingcolored or otherwise opaque or largely opaque material if desired.

By one approach, some or all of the sealed modules 101 can includecontainers 203 that do not include (when sealed) a prophylactic agent orany other contents (aside from atmospheric contents of choice). Such acontainer 203 can serve instead as a well to receive, for example, aprophylactic liquid such as a mouthwash. In particular, at a time ofuse, a mouthwash container can be opened and all or a portion of itscontents poured into such a well to facilitate the use of that liquid bythe medical services provider.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2 some or all of the sealed modules 101can include a physical user interface 204 to facilitate permitting auser to select and remove a single one of the sealed modules 101 via theabove-described dispensing slot 103 of the housing 100. In theillustrated example, this physical user interface 204 comprises a smallwell shaped to receive and suitably interact with a user's thumb.

If desired, corrugations 205 can be included to impart strength andrigidity to the sealed module 101 where desired.

As shown in FIG. 3, by one approach a paper or paper-like cover 301 cancover the various containers 201 of the sealed module 101 to therebyseal those container areas. An adhesive of choice can be employed forthis purpose. This seal can be hermetic if desired. In any event, soconfigured, this cover 301 can be readily removed at a time of need bysimply peeling the cover 301 away from the remaining portion of thesealed module 101 to thereby expose the containers and permit access tothe prophylactic agents 202 stored therein.

By one approach this cover 301 can have information 302 printed (orotherwise placed) thereon. As one example in these regards, thisinformation 302 can comprise administration-facilitation instructionalcontent regarding proper administration of the prophylactic agent(s) 202contained in this particular sealed module 101. Such instructionalcontent can comprise, for example, explanatory and/or cautionary text,icons, color coding, and graphic content in these regards. The graphiccontent, for example, can comprise a numbered sequence of images thatoffer step-by-step illustrative examples regarding how to set up theprophylactic agent(s) for use and then use those materials for thebenefit of the patient.

As noted above, the prophylactic agents included in a given kit caninclude one or more prescription drugs such as, but certainly notlimited to, a prescription-strength oral rinse comprising chlorhexidinegluconate 0.12%. In some regulated jurisdictions it may be impermissibleto include such a prescription-grade agent within the aforementionedsealed modules 101. By one approach, the sealed module 101 can insteadinclude an external nesting area 401 as illustrated by way of example inFIG. 4.

This external nesting area 401 can be configured to receive thecontainer 402 for the prophylactic agent in question. This can compriseeither loosely receiving that container 402 or configuring the sealedmodule 101 to mate with the container 402 using, for example, a snapfit. If desired, a sheet 403 of tearable or otherwise removable paper,plastic, or the like can be partially disposed over the container 402and adhered to the sealed module 101 in order to further contain thecontainer 402 and/or provide a further cautionary note to the observerregarding the removal and use of the contents of that container 402.

As mentioned above, these teachings provide for configuring asealed-module housing that permits only one sealed module to bedispensed at a time, and in a particular order as well. FIG. 5illustrates how a dispensing slot 103, working in combination with theaforementioned window side panels 102, permits a single sealed module101 to be gripped by a user 501 (using, for example, a thumb 502) andeasily removed from the housing 100 via that dispensing slot 103. Uponremoving that lowermost sealed module 101, of course, the remainingsealed modules 101 within the housing 100 will drop down to therebypermit the next-in-order sealed module 101 to be similarly dispensed atthe appropriate time. If desired, a biasing member such as one or moresprings (not shown) can be located within the housing 100 and above thesealed modules 101 to urge the sealed modules 101 towards the dispensingslot 103.

If desired, and referring now to FIG. 6, the dispensing slot 103 can bepartially (or even fully, if desired) blocked by one or more tear-awayflaps 601. These tear-away flaps 601 can be defined, at least in part,by scored or perforated lines to permit the tear-away flaps 601 to bereadily separated from the housing 100 to thereby fully expose anddefine the dispensing slot 103.

If desired, one or more exterior surfaces of the housing 100 can haveinstructional and/or cautionary content disposed thereon. For example,and only by way of illustration, a first area 602 can presentcompliance-facilitation content. This can of course include informationregarding the correct use and timing of use of the contents of the kit.This content can also refer to specifics that relate to the overallregimen including specifics that do not pertain, at least directly, tothe prophylactic agents contained in the kit. For example, when the kitserves to prevent the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia,this information can include other related compliance specifics such asmaintaining the patient's head of their bed between thirty degrees andforty-five degrees and interrupting the patient's state of sedation on adaily basis.

As noted above, such a kit may be configured and intended for use duringonly a predetermined period of time such as twenty-four consecutivehours. In such a case, and again by way of illustration rather thanlimitation, another area 603 on the exterior surface of the housing 100can include information regarding this predetermined period of time. Forexample, when the kit comprises a kit of prophylactic agents intendedand designed for use over a single twenty-four hour period, thisinformation can include the words “24 HR SYSTEM” or the like.

Also as noted above, a given kit can be configured and designed for atleast some of its constituent sealed modules 101 to be administered ateven periodic intervals, such as every four hours. In such a case, andagain only by way of an illustrative example, yet another portion 604 ofthe housing's exterior can include information in these regards.

And yet another portion 605 of the housing's exterior can containinformation that details the contents of the kit. For aventilator-associated pneumonia prevention kit, for example, this mightidentify a single set-up kit, two suction toothbrush and cathetermodules, and four suction swab modules.

It will be understood that such informational content can be locatedelsewhere on the housing 100 and/or that the external surfaces of thehousing 100 can include other kinds of information as desired. As oneexample in these regards, the relatively large area offered on thebackside of the housing 100 can include pictures or other illustrations(along with corresponding text) to generally (or specifically) depictand describe how to set up a suction canister to operate with thevarious kit components.

The aforementioned window 104 (as well as the dispensing slot 103)permit an observer to view at least some of the stacked sealed modules101 from their sides. As noted above, these sealed modules 101 can bestacked such that they are dispensed in an intended order of usage. Inaddition, if desired, at least some of the sealed modules can include aperiodicity indicator 606. In the illustrative example shown, forexample, the first sealed module is labeled “set up” and contains theitems required to make appropriate use of the remaining packed items.The second sealed module is labeled “start” and includes the items thatthe medical service provider will first use when beginning theprophylactic regimen for a given patient. The third sealed module islabeled “4” to denote that this sealed module is to be used four hourslater (presuming this kit to contain items that are to be administeredperiodically at four-hour intervals), and so forth.

In addition to the foregoing or in lieu thereof, some or all of thesealed containers can also include a module title and/or contents list607 that is similarly viewable via the dispensing slot 103 and/or thewindow 104.

These teachings will also accommodate making use of color coding asdesired. By one approach, for example, color coding can be applied tosome or all of the sealed modules 101. This might comprise, for example,using a dark blue color to indicate sealed modules 101 that containset-up materials and another color or colors for the remaining sealedmodules 101.

Kits for ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention can include any of avariety of mouthwashes. By one approach, color coding can serve toindicate which mouthwash one will find in each such kit. As anillustrative example in these regards, the color gold can identifysealed modules (other than start-up kit sealed modules) that are used ina kit that contains a chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% oral rinse whilelight blue identifies sealed modules 101 for kits that utilize a salivaenzyme-based mouthwash and green identifies sealed modules 101 for kitsthat contain hydrogen peroxide-based mouthwashes.

Using this approach, at least some sealed modules that are color codedin a given housing 100 will all share a same color coding based on aparticular type or selection of prophylactic agent (such as mouthwash)regardless of whether each color-coded sealed module 101 actuallycontains the particular prophylactic agent that determines the colorcoding. This approach can aid in presenting an easily understoodcolor-coded presentation that effectively communicates the desiredinformation to the observer.

As mentioned above, in some cases it may be undesired to place aparticular item, such as a prescription-grade prophylactic agent, withina sealed module as described. FIG. 4 described above illustrates one wayto associate such an agent with a given sealed module 101 by securingthe agent to the exterior of the sealed module 101. FIG. 7 illustratesanother approach in these same regards.

In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates that the housing 100 can include adiscrete storage area 701 to separately store such things asprescription-grade prophylactic agents. In this particular example ashelf 702 serves to separate this storage area 701 from the remainder ofthe housing 701 and cavities 703 are formed through a front panel toreceive and retain the agent until desired. As shown, these cavities 703include scored segments around the periphery of the cavities 703 to helpreceive and captivate, for example, a bottle-shaped container.

By one approach, and referring now to FIG. 8, the housing 100 canfurther include a ramp 801 to hold the sealed modules 101 at anon-horizontal dispensing angle. In particular, this ramp 801 isrearwardly inclined. This inclined orientation, in turn, will tend topermit gravity to bias the sealed modules 101 towards the rear of thehousing 100 and thereby discourage inadvertent, non-aided dispensationof sealed modules 101 through the dispensing slot 103.

By one approach this ramp 801 can comprise a small front panel 802 and asloping shelf 803 that forms an inclined surface to so orient and biasthe sealed modules 101. In this example these two parts of the ramp 801are integrally and contiguously comprised of the housing materialitself. More particularly, at least a portion of the sloping shelf 803is formed of the housing material that, when so removed, defines atleast in part the aforementioned window 104 of the front panel of thehousing 100. As suggested by the curved arrow denoted by referencenumeral 804, this material can be pivoted rearwardly and downwardly(with respect to the small front panel 802) to thereby form the slopingshelf 803.

Such a housing can be operationally deployed in a variety of ways. Byone approach the housing itself can simply be set upon a substantiallyhorizontal surface such as a table top or shelf. By another approach thehousing can be suspended from a suitable support apparatus (such as, butnot limited to, a so-called IV pole, a wall-mounted hook or hooks, a bedframe, and so forth). To support suspending the housing 100 the housing100 itself can optionally include a suspension interface.

FIG. 9 provides one non-limiting example in these regards. In thisexample the suspension interface 901 comprises a flange that can bepivoted upwardly from the top of the housing 100 when and as needed.This suspension interface 901 includes a first pair of slots 902 and903, a second pair of slots 905, and a single slot 904 to aid inaccommodating a wide variety of support structures. The particulardimensions employed can be varied to suit the dimensions of possiblesupport structures that the designer anticipates being available in theapplication setting.

These teachings are highly flexible in practice. As one example, thedimensions of the housing 100 can be varied as desired to suit as manysealed modules 101 as one may wish. As another example, these teachingscan find useful application in a wide variety of application settingsincluding bedside application settings, in surgery theaters, in firstresponder settings, in at-home settings, and so forth.

Such an approach is well suited to encouraging compliance withsometimes-complex prophylactic regimens that can span multiple shifts ofcaregivers and that pose changing requirements as to the specifictreatment or task to be undertaken at any given time. Per theseteachings, the medical service provider receives useful promptsregarding when to administer care to a given patient as well asunambiguous identification of which treatment to administer at thattime.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofmodifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect tothe above described embodiments without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andcombinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventiveconcept.

We claim:
 1. A prophylactic kit apparatus configured to be used withonly a single patient, comprising: a plurality of sealed modules, eachof the sealed modules containing at least one prophylactic agent to beused in service of the patient and wherein the sealed modules are to beused in a particular order in service of the patient and wherein theplurality of sealed modules contain prophylactic agents to aid inpreventing ventilator-associated pneumonia; a housing configured toconformally and loosely contain the plurality of sealed modules andhaving a dispensing slot configured and sized such that only one of theplurality of sealed modules can be removed from the housing at a timeand in a particular order, the housing having no other openings ofsufficient size to accommodate removal of one of the plurality of sealedmodules, the housing further including an integral removable flap thatat least partially blocks the dispensing slot and that, when removedfrom the dispensing slot, fully exposes the dispensing slot to therebypermit no more than one of the sealed modules to be removed from thehousing therethrough at a time.
 2. The prophylactic kit apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the prophylactic agents comprise a set-up kit,oral-cleaning instruments, and mouthwashes.
 3. The prophylactic kitapparatus of claim 2 wherein the mouthwashes comprise at least one ofchlorhexidine gluconate, saliva enzyme-based mouthwash, and hydrogenperoxide.
 4. The prophylactic kit apparatus of claim 1 wherein theplurality of sealed modules are also to be used in a periodic manner andwhere at least some of the sealed modules bear a periodicity indicator.5. The prophylactic kit apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofsealed modules are stacked vertically within the housing when thehousing is oriented in a dispensing orientation.
 6. The prophylactic kitapparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of the sealed modules arecolor coded as a function of the prophylactic agents.
 7. Theprophylactic kit apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least some sealedmodules that are color coded in a given housing all share a same colorcoding regardless of whether each of the color coded sealed modulescontains the particular prophylactic agent that determines the colorcoding.
 8. The prophylactic kit apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housingis comprised of a paperboard material.
 9. The prophylactic kit apparatusof claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a ramp configured tohold at least one of the sealed modules at a non-horizontal dispensingangle.
 10. The prophylactic kit apparatus of claim 9 wherein the ramp isan integral contiguous part of the housing.
 11. The prophylactic kitapparatus of claim 9 wherein the ramp is inclined rearwardly to biasagainst non-aided dispensation of the sealed modules.
 12. Theprophylactic kit apparatus of claim 1 wherein the prophylactic kitapparatus is further configured to be used for no longer than apredetermined period of time.
 13. The prophylactic kit apparatus ofclaim 12 wherein the predetermined period of time is one day.
 14. Theprophylactic kit apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing furthercomprises a discrete storage area for a prescription-grade prophylacticagent.
 15. The prophylactic kit apparatus of claim 14 wherein thediscrete storage area is below a sealed-module dispensing area when thehousing is oriented in a dispensing orientation.
 16. The prophylactickit apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an electronic timer tofacilitate timely administration of the sealed modules in service of thepatient.
 17. The prophylactic kit apparatus of claim 1 wherein thehousing includes compliance-facilitation content disposed on at leastone outer surface thereof.
 18. The prophylactic kit apparatus of claim 1wherein at least some of the sealed modules includeadministration-facilitation instructional content disposed on at leastone outer surface thereof regarding proper administration of theprophylactic agent contained therein.